Welcome to Gaia! ::

Tolin looked around the laboratory in mild surprise. It was spotless, it's floors cleaned and instruments polished as if kept by some meticulous house keeper.

"I was never here, right? I won't pry." People have secrets they want buried and pasts they prefer ignored. Tolin was no stranger to this fact. There were many parts of his history he wished even he himself could forget.

Albus seemed content to ignore the mood. "Nice place." He stared at the hologram curiously when it appeared, though he didn't say anything.

Albus stared at Spike with surprise. "Hey, hey hey what? I said I'd help, not that I would take on the army killer." Albus wasn't comfortably fighting things considerably stronger than he was. The Charizard had been an exception, and only because Albus was immune to flame. Whether it was the lava of a volcano or the flames of a forge, he could pass through them without harm.

Now, Nico's razor-pointy death claws were another matter entirely.

Tolin lifted Sam up onto the bed once Scar had it in the room. Albus definitely had a point; even with the benefit of fire, trying to match most creatures up against Nico was suicide. "Will you be needing me for the entirety of the surgery? I can keep Nico busy for a few minutes if necessary."

Tolin shook his head. "It's not injuring him I'm wondering about, it's defending us. If you'll only need me for limb removal, I'll monitor the door as well. I'd rather not have to take another to the hospital. Will that be fine, Albus?"

The Flareon nodded. "I'll keep an eye out for him." Detect would at least give a brief warning.

Tolin crouched, putting his scythes in front of his companion. "I need these sterilized. Hot flames around the tip, up the edges and on the sides." Albus nodded, spitting out a thin jet of flames. Tolin winced in pain as the heat crept through the back of his arms.

"I'm ready whenever you are. Just show me where to cut."

Tolin pushed his scythe down, the tip pushing into the leg. "Sorry about this." Tolin pulled his scythe back, pulling straight through the flesh. The leg was cut cleanly and evenly. Small splatters of blood shot out as the pressure on his system was released. Sam was thankfully still under the influence of heavy anesthetics in order to keep him calm.

The skin around the cut began to move inwards as if pushed down by something. Tolin's Psychic wrapped around the Croagunk's leg, pressuring it. "Is one cut fine for now?"

"It's fine! Just let me concentrate, it's hard doing two things at once." Albus had an accurate map of the room and the areas beyond. If Nico was running, Albus would probably have a five, six second notice. Not only that, but he was raising his body temperature. Flareon have the ability to hold onto heat unusually well, being able to heat their bodies hot enough that their breath could melt iron.

If that crazy a*****e got anywhere near the room, he'd be engulfed in a torrent of flames strong enough to torch him and the wall behind him.

Tolin watched the procedure with fascination as he limited the blood flow. It was rare to find sophisticated, automated machinery by any means.

Tolin cut off the other leg in a heartbeat and began ordering Albus. "Step back from the door and to the side. Step sideways to the same side as the hinges. Focus detect up the hallway, try to confirm the type. If it's a Weavile or anything vaguely like it, ready Flamethrower." If Nico sent the door flying in, the lock should break last and act as a pivot. Albus would be in a good position to blast him. Albus nodded, moving into the spot immediately.

Tolin applied pressure to the fresh wound with psychic and stepped in front of the table. "If he gets in and Flamethrower doesn't work, I'll engage him. Take the time to retreat."

Tolin hefted Sam over his right shoulder. The dulled end of his scythe kept Sam firmly in place while Psychic balanced him. "Fine by me. Albus, follow us quickly. Take up our rear."

Albus wordlessly took his place behind the party as they rushed up the stairs. He couldn't speak unless he wanted to inadvertently burn the party to death. He backed slowly up the stairs, keeping a watchful eye on the door. Provided nothing burst through the door, he'd turn around in short order and run up the stairs after the group.

"Albus, stay in the stairwell. Keep an eye on the room. If Nico comes in, you know what to do." Tolin took off up the stairs, leaving Albus looking back and forth between the two options.

"Dammit..." Puffs of flame escaped his mouth as he spoke. "Hurry it up. If he comes back, I want to be gone first." Albus kept his eyes and body aimed at the doorway.